"Sometimes I thought what the f*ck am I doing here?" - Honest Michael van Gerwen admits mental struggles in recent seasons

PDC
Thursday, 29 February 2024 at 17:30
2024mastersfinal vangerwen3

Michael van Gerwen returns to action on Thursday night for the latest round of the 2024 Premier League Darts looking to secure a record-breaking fourth weekly win in a row.

Things haven't always gone so well for the mighty Dutchman in recent seasons however, as he reflected in an honest interview with Online Darts. "This year I have a lot to defend," he admits. "But also, if you look at the way how I'm playing now compared to last year, I think I'm playing 80% better than last year so I think I can do a lot better this year."

"I played okay last year. I was good in a few tournaments, poor in a few tournaments, so you need to find the right balance for yourself," van Gerwen continues. "There's a lot more to get from me and I know that so there's pressure on my shoulders but I'm looking at it tournament by tournament this year."

This view of the year marks something of a significant switch in mindset for van Gerwen. "Last year I didn't enjoy the Premier League. I won three nights but I didn't enjoy it and when you don't want to be there, you're only going to work against yourself," he says. "I love to play on the stage, I love to do what I do but I needed to change my mindset."

Van Gerwen also feels his mindset wasn't in the right place on the Pro Tour last year. "I wasn't there with the right intent. I was there because I have to be there. Now, I want to perform well and that's different," he reveals. "Sometimes I thought what the fuck am I doing here? Everyone needs a reality check or a little slap on the bum."

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